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Gardner artist's painting stolen from Lunenburg bar

This galactic-inspired painting by Gardner artist Ashley Rheaume was stolen from an art show at Bad Larry's Bar and Grill early this week.
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LUNENBURG -- She hoped to fetch $140 for her galactic-inspired oil painting. Then someone stole it.

Now 29-year-old Gardner artist Ashley Rheaume needs the public's help getting it back.

"I got so upset that I actually left work early and drove to the restaurant to see what's going on," Rheaume said after learning that someone stole her painting from Bad Larry's Bar and Grill.

Her pink-and-midnight-black 12 inch by 24 inch painting depicts a line of trees wrapped in midnight skies.

It was one of the artworks exhibited at the Village Art Show, an initiative highlighting local artists that uses wall-space at the restaurant located at 1 Main St.

"For someone to go through all that effort to take my art off the wall, that's crazy," said Rheaume. "It wasn't a small painting. You got to wonder how they got it out the door. You can't just put it in your purse and walk out."

Rheaume, who supports herself by selling her art and working part-time at Cauley's Florist & Garden Center, said the stolen painting took a week to create.

She exhibits paintings and mixed-media canvases at art shows across the state.

Bad Larry's is not liable for the artwork per terms of agreement for using the restaurant's space, Rheaume said.

Iphie Burg, Village Art Show founder and organizer, said she nearly canceled the exhibition's opening celebration after learning that one of the artist's works was stolen.

"I was just crushed (and) in tears," said Burg.

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"I was so down about it I thought I'd have to cancel the whole thing, because I'm not going to jeopardize my artists."

Rheaume, not wanting to limit the public exposure for the 10 other artists, convinced Burg not to shut down the exhibition.

The exhibition's grand opening will proceed as planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. It features 34 works of photography and painting and live music by Clayton Phelps.

"I don't think you should let one bad person ruin a good thing," said Rheaume.

She urged anyone with information about the stolen painting should get in touch through her professional Facebook page.

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